CLECAT has published a new Guide on Preventing Identity-Based Cargo Theft, providing freight forwarders and logistics service providers with practical recommendations to strengthen risk management procedures and address one of the fastest-growing threats facing supply chains today.
Cargo theft remains a significant and evolving risk for the European logistics sector. While traditional cargo theft involving physical force continues to account for the majority of reported incidents, an increasing share of the overall financial damage is linked to deception-based schemes. Organised criminal groups are increasingly exploiting procedural weaknesses, digital communication channels and operational time pressures to gain control of valuable shipments without resorting to force.
Identity-based cargo theft typically involves the use of stolen company identities, phantom carriers, forged documentation, fraudulent email domains and other forms of digital impersonation. The growing use of digital freight platforms and online communication tools, combined with increasingly sophisticated technologies, has further increased opportunities for criminals to infiltrate supply chains and target logistics operations.
To support companies in addressing these risks, the CLECAT guide provides a structured framework for strengthening due diligence and verification procedures throughout the transport chain. The guidance covers carrier onboarding and verification, secure communication practices, financial safeguards, loading-site controls, driver and vehicle identification procedures and incident response measures. It also highlights common warning indicators, emerging criminal modus operandi and practical examples of fraud cases reported across Europe. (....)